The University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) is expected to hold its congress. The society is demanding a free hand to do things its own way. But will the management, which suspended its activities some months ago, allow the congress to hold? AJOKE ABDUR-RASAK reports.
Will the long-awaited congress of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) branch of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) hold today? Going by the assurance of the Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof. Tunde Babawale, the congress will definitely hold. But, if the congress must hold, the society’s members want a free hand to handle things.
The members took to the street last week over what they called “protracted ban” on the society’s activities. The students were aggrieved by the management’s suspension of the body. They accused some top management officials of being behind the suspension.
The protest started at the school Central Mosque at 8am last Wednesday, with the students bearing placards, with inscriptions: “#BringBackMSSNUNILAG”, “Let MSSN enjoy what other associations enjoy”, “44 days of oppression in UNILAG”, “VC come to our rescue”, and “VC, reinstate our MSSN”, among others.
The protest, which lasted for 90 minutes, prompted reaction from the management. The DSA, while addressing the aggrieved students, promised that members of the society would be allowed to hold the congress today.
He said: “Staff adviser and review committee would not be imposed on the association. It is not true that review committee that will anchor the congress will be imposed on MSSN. Members of the committee have been selected from all groups and tendencies to conduct the congress. Faculties will be represented too.”
The MSSN crisis started about two years ago, during the Tunde Musodiq-led executive regime when some members sent an anonymous petition to the management, claiming the association had sidelined them.
This was followed by series of petitions, which prompted the management to summon executive. The matter reared its head again during Abdur-Rasheed Adeoye-led executive, making the management to suspend the activity of the Society.
A panel led by Luqman Adams, a lecturer, which was set up to look into the matter, recommended that the Adeoye-led executive be dissolved to allow new regime. Afterwards, the Society’s bye-law was reviewed and presented at a congress, where 116 students adopted the review and only 23 voted against it.
The amusement upheld the decision of the minority that voted against reviewing the bye-law. This was rejected by members, who accused the management of being used against the Society.
It was rumoured that Chief Imam of the UNILAG Central Mosque, Prof. M.A. Bidmus, and a lecturer at the Department of Islamic Studies, Dr. Ismail Musa, had allegedly imposed sections of the MSSN bye-law on the committee that will steer the congress.
Tajudeen Akolade, who led the protest, said: “We demand free and fair process. We don’t want imposition or tele-guided congress. Students must take charge of the affairs of the congress. There should no interference from Prof Bidmus and Dr. Musa. This is a students’ body and not lecturers’ association.”
Shakiroh Anifowoshe, a 300-Level Finance student, said fixing a date for the congress was a good idea. She said: “I see no reason why the DSA had to wait for a protest before calling for a meeting of the MSSN members. This congress should have happened weeks ago. Taking action during a protest shows that the management and the Muslim community are taking the issue lightly. We hope we resolve the issue today.”
Morufa Babalola, a 300-Level Chemistry Education student, said: “The bye-law has been reviewed and approved. If the authorities believe a congress is the next step, then why not let us have it on time. If this is what needs to be done to chart the way forward, I believe we, as MSSN members, are ready for that.”